Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Alwyn Pearce “Rasty” Llewellyn

Service Number SX3565 – 2/7 Field Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery

Alwyn Pearce Llewellyn was born on 14 October 1918 in Walkerville, South Australia, the son of Gordon Llewellyn and Eliza Grace (née Steer). He spent his childhood in the River Murray township of Mypolonga, where his parents ran a property and were active in the local Methodist community. Alwyn attended Mypolonga Primary School. Before the war, he worked as a labourer in the Murray Bridge district.

At the age of twenty-one, Alwyn enlisted in the Second Australian Imperial Force on 21 May 1940 at Adelaide. He was recorded as having brown hair, blue eyes and a fair complexion, and his religion was noted as Methodist. Initially single, he gave his mother, Grace Llewellyn of Mypolonga, as his next of kin. After completing basic training at the Wayville Showgrounds and Woodside Army Camp, he was assigned to the 2/7 Field Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery — part of the 9th Division, A.I.F. He embarked from Adelaide on 17 November 1940 aboard H.M.T. Matheden for overseas service.

Gunner Llewellyn served with the 2/7 Field Regiment throughout the Middle East campaigns. His regiment saw heavy action during the Siege of Tobruk in 1941 and the subsequent operations across Libya and Egypt, including the pivotal Battle of El Alamein in 1942. During this time, Alwyn endured the extremes of desert warfare, maintaining and operating field guns under constant threat from enemy fire and harsh environmental conditions. His records note consistent periods of active duty, field postings and embarkations through 1940–1943, with commendations for good conduct and proficiency.

Following the return of the 9th Division to Australia in early 1943, Alwyn continued training and served in the South-West Pacific theatre. On 8 April 1945 he embarked from Townsville aboard the General Butner, disembarking at Mopoti on 16 April for deployment in New Guinea during the final phase of the war. Here he supported artillery operations during jungle campaigns until the Japanese surrender.

On 4 March 1944, while still on active service, Alwyn married Margery McCulloch of Murray Bridge. This change of next of kin is officially recorded in his service documents. After more than five years of continuous service, he returned to Australia in September 1945. He was formally discharged at the Wayville depot on 19 September 1945 under A.M.R. 184A(1), having completed 1,981 days of service, of which 788 were in Australia and 1,193 overseas. He received his Returned from Active Service Badge, numbered A48256, on 18 September 1945, one day prior to his discharge.

Following the war, Alwyn, affectionately known as “Rasty,” returned home to Murray Bridge. He and Margery built their life together in Mypolonga, raising three children — Donald, Jennifer, and Kathleen — and later welcoming grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Rasty worked in rural trades and continued to serve his community through the Murray Bridge R.S.L., where he was respected for his quiet humour and loyalty to his old comrades of the 2/7 Field Regiment.

Alwyn Pearce Llewellyn passed away on 3 October 1996 at the age of seventy-five. He was buried in the Murray Bridge Cemetery beside his beloved wife, Margery, who lived to the age of ninety-eight.

His memorial plaque bears the simple yet proud inscription:

SX3565 Gunner A.P. (Rasty) Llewellyn, 2/7 Field Regiment R.A.A.

Loved husband of Margery. Father of Donald, Jennifer, Kathleen and families.

Rasty’s life reflects the story of a generation of South Australians who served with steadfast courage, returned home to rebuild their communities, and lived the remainder of their days with quiet dignity and devotion to family and country.

Sources:

National Archives of Australia, B883, SX3565 (Service Record)

Australian War Memorial – 2/7 Field Regiment unit history

South Australian Births Index (1918, Walkerville)

The Advertiser, death and funeral notices, October 1996

Murray Bridge Cemetery records

Biography by Trevor Pyatt 10/10/2025